The house was built by John "Talking John" Melbourne Rich, the first of his three houses. John owed his Uncle Jonathan Rich (1836-1907) a sum of money, so he swapped this Tremont house for Jonathan's older less valuable Richtown house. Emily (Rich) Trask (1884-1981), John Melbourne Rich's daughter, said in a 1975 interview that she was born in the house, "in that back bedroom up there… That was a big place. It was different from these days…it had a piazza clean around it and round the front. Father was great on building big places but he got in debt so much that he had to give up and go over to Richville [Richtown] and live." The main house, minus barn and ell, still exists in 2016, although covered in green asbestos shingles. The house was originally painted a cream color with brown trim. It sits back from the road just before the Tremont Congregational Church. The people in the photograph left to right: Jonathan Rich (1836-1907) Roseanna B. (Dix) Rich - Mrs. Jonathan Rich (1841-1916) Avah Dalton Rich, Sr. (1876-1908) Unknown lady in a white shirtwaist Unknown seated lady Rena “Teenie” or “Tiny” May Thurston - a dwarf (1866-1905) Unknown lady in a hat Unknown man in a suit
Description: The house was built by John "Talking John" Melbourne Rich, the first of his three houses. John owed his Uncle Jonathan Rich (1836-1907) a sum of money, so he swapped this Tremont house for Jonathan's older less valuable Richtown house. Emily (Rich) Trask (1884-1981), John Melbourne Rich's daughter, said in a 1975 interview that she was born in the house, "in that back bedroom up there… That was a big place. It was different from these days…it had a piazza clean around it and round the front. Father was great on building big places but he got in debt so much that he had to give up and go over to Richville [Richtown] and live." The main house, minus barn and ell, still exists in 2016, although covered in green asbestos shingles. The house was originally painted a cream color with brown trim. It sits back from the road just before the Tremont Congregational Church. The people in the photograph left to right: Jonathan Rich (1836-1907) Roseanna B. (Dix) Rich - Mrs. Jonathan Rich (1841-1916) Avah Dalton Rich, Sr. (1876-1908) Unknown lady in a white shirtwaist Unknown seated lady Rena “Teenie” or “Tiny” May Thurston - a dwarf (1866-1905) Unknown lady in a hat Unknown man in a suit [show more]
"Fred Robbins had his house built by William H. Rea. During the years that Mr, Robbins was employed as a lighthouse keeper, the house was rented and so he built the small cottage to the south of his home as a place where he and his wife could spend their annual vacations." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 143.
Description: "Fred Robbins had his house built by William H. Rea. During the years that Mr, Robbins was employed as a lighthouse keeper, the house was rented and so he built the small cottage to the south of his home as a place where he and his wife could spend their annual vacations." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 143.
Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Description: Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Description: Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Description: Frank was married on January 16, 1895 and this photograph was taken in the fall. Frank's cousin, Henry L. Rand, was probably documenting his new living quarters.
Sitting in the buggy in front of the house are Alton E. Farnsworth and his wife, Emily (Robinson) Farnsworth and their nephew, Christopher Wendell Lawler, son of Emily's sister, Caroline Robinson, Mrs. Allen Jacob Lawler. Emily's mother, Abigail "Argo" (Whitmore) Robinson, is standing in the doorway.
Description: Sitting in the buggy in front of the house are Alton E. Farnsworth and his wife, Emily (Robinson) Farnsworth and their nephew, Christopher Wendell Lawler, son of Emily's sister, Caroline Robinson, Mrs. Allen Jacob Lawler. Emily's mother, Abigail "Argo" (Whitmore) Robinson, is standing in the doorway.
Wilkinson - Mary Jane (Wilkinson) Gilley (1836-1917) Gilley - John Gilley (1822-1896) Note the care with which Mary Jane Gilley arranged her front room curtains, one draped left and one draped right to frame her view.
Description: Wilkinson - Mary Jane (Wilkinson) Gilley (1836-1917) Gilley - John Gilley (1822-1896) Note the care with which Mary Jane Gilley arranged her front room curtains, one draped left and one draped right to frame her view.